Spanish Phrase
Estaban bastante caros.
Meaning
This phrase means that a group of items or people were, at a past point in time, considered to be quite expensive. 'Estaban' is the imperfect past tense of 'estar' (to be), indicating a state or condition that existed over a period or at an unspecified time in the past. 'Bastante' means 'quite' or 'rather,' and 'caros' is the plural masculine form of 'caro' (expensive).
When to use
You would use this phrase when talking about past shopping experiences, discussing prices of items you saw or considered buying, or describing the cost of services or goods in a previous situation. It's suitable for recounting a story about something that was expensive at the time you encountered it.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estabanbastantecaros
Estar (Estaban)
'Estaban' is the third-person plural imperfect past tense of the verb 'estar' (to be). It's used to describe states, conditions, or locations in the past, often for actions that were ongoing or habitual, or for descriptions without a specific beginning or end.
Bastante
'Bastante' is an adverb meaning 'quite,' 'rather,' or 'enough.' Here, it modifies the adjective 'caros,' intensifying its meaning without being as strong as 'muy' (very).
Caros
'Caros' is the masculine plural form of the adjective 'caro' (expensive). Adjectives in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. If referring to feminine items, it would be 'caras'.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué tal las entradas para el concierto?
How were the concert tickets?
Uf, estaban bastante caros, así que no compramos.
Ugh, they were quite expensive, so we didn't buy them.
✕Common Mistakes
Eran bastante caros.
While 'ser' can describe inherent characteristics, 'estar' is typically used for prices, as they are often seen as temporary conditions or states. 'Eran' would imply they were inherently expensive, which is less common for prices.
Estaban bastante caro.
The adjective 'caro' must agree in number and gender with the noun it describes. Since 'they' (referring to masculine plural items) is implied, it should be 'caros'.
Bastante estaban caros.
The adverb 'bastante' usually precedes the adjective it modifies ('caros') or the verb it modifies, but not typically between the verb and the adjective in this structure.
↔Alternatives
Costaban mucho.
They cost a lot.
Tenían un precio elevado.
They had a high price.
Salían muy caros.
They turned out very expensive.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, discussing prices and even light bargaining (especially in markets or smaller shops) is more common than in some other cultures. Using 'bastante' (quite) can soften the statement compared to 'muy' (very), making it sound less absolute. The choice between 'ser' and 'estar' for price can sometimes subtly reflect whether the price is considered an inherent quality or a temporary state, though 'estar' is generally preferred for current or past prices.